2017

The EU Commission wants to increase women’s participation in employment. With this aim, work life balance is to be improved and incentives created for men to claim parental leave. In cep’s view, the proposed Directive can at best make a small contribution to achieving the EU Commission’s objective.

2017

53 retail and wholesale trading companies in 22 EU Member States were asked whether and by what measures they are hampered when trading in the EU internal market. Companies were also asked whether they suffer discrimination as a result of national laws or by national authorities in other EU countries as compared with domestic companies.

2017

The EU Commission wants to harmonise road-use charges in the EU. In cep’s view, extending the scope of the Road Charging Directive could prevent distortions of competition. The proposed rules on the imposition of road-use charges for cars are, however, in breach of the principle of subsidiarity.

2017

The Commission wants to improve the rules in the EMIR Regulation, particularly those relating to over-the-counter derivatives. In the PolicyBrief on the proposal from the EU Commission for a corresponding Regulation, the easing of the clearing obligation for counterparties that only undertake limited derivative transactions is seen as appropriate because these do not represent a serious threat to the stability of the financial markets.

2017

The EU wants to oblige Member States to undertake closer regional cooperation in the avoidance and management of electricity crises. In cep’s view, this could avoid severe economic damage in Member States in the event of an electricity crisis. The duty to manage electricity crises primarily with measures which are compatible with the internal electricity market also facilitates efficient pricing on the wholesale electricity market.

2017

The EU Commission wants to ensure that, in future, prior to the introduction or amendment of national provisions to regulate professions, these will be assessed more carefully as to their proportionality. In cep’s view, the Commission’s proposal for a Directive imposes tighter limits on the anti-competitive misuse of professional regulation than previously.

2017

The EU Commission wants to strengthen the internal market for consumer financial services. In its analysis of the Commission’s Communication, cep regards as appropriate the Commission’s reluctance to bring in new rules on territorial restrictions because such restrictions are not per se limitations on the internal market.